Chapter 28 On Reading

e yourself either. Over the past two years, you've been by Jia Ren's side, keeping Earl's Mansion running smoothly and taking care of everything meticulously. Everyone who mentions it praises you both...Liu Laifufu's daughter-in-law Chunhong wasn't pleased at all when she heard this.

"Sister-in-law, Laifu went to the county town to ask Wu Er for help in teaching Li Jia a lesson. He's not fooling around! Besides, I think Big Brother's waist is already healed. He's just being lazy and doesn't want to work. What excuse is he making"

"What are you talking about Your man is lazy and lecherous, always thinking of ways to cheat money from his mother. Do you have the face to speak ill of my Tiezhu"

Su Niang seemed to have been pricked, her words becoming increasingly harsh.

Chunhong, with a round face flushed red with anger, couldn't win an argument against Sunia. She got physical, using her weight advantage to pin Sunia down by the edge of the kang and started beating her.

Guo didn't try to stop the fight, instead she picked up a feather duster and together with the two daughters-in-law, they began to scold them.

The shouts and bickering from the Liu household could be heard from far away. Villagers passing by, hearing the noise, all avoided it with disgust.

"What's all the noise Can't a person get some sleep!"

Liu Tiezhu was sleeping on the kang when he was suddenly woken up and angrily shouted.

"If you have the guts, go fight the Li family! If they hadn't watched the excitement and refused to help us, would we have been able to get our food back"

This reminded Guo, who then yelled in the direction of the Li family.

"A heartless wretch, not even helping his own family, he'll surely end up with no children or descendants!"

Neighbors of the Liu family, hearing this, became even more disgusted with them. They thought to themselves, who really lacked conscience The Liu family was truly spineless and hopeless...

Li Laotai was unaware of the Liu family's troubles. She was busy coaxing her granddaughter while doing needlework.

One autumn rain, one chill. The weather will only get colder from now on.

Jia Yin's clothes were a bit thin, so Li Laotai took out the fabric and cotton she had bought a few days ago and wanted to make a few little dresses for her granddaughter.

Jia Yin lay on the warm kang, feeling like a pancake, one side cooked and the other still raw.

"Ya ya ya!" Jiayin threw the tambourine and reached out to her grandma.

Li Laotai hurriedly put down the half-sewn clothes and picked up her granddaughter, gently rocking her.

With all the harvest work done, the Li family wasn't just staying idle at home.

Both young and old carried axes and rope into the mountains, preparing to cut down a lot of firewood for burning during the winter.

The villagers who had previously received help from the Li family saw the Li family members go up the mountain to chop wood and, one after another, took their own axes and followed.

Many hands make light work. In just one day, they chopped a whole pile of firewood.

Jia Ren took several younger brothers to put the somewhat damp firewood in an open space to dry, and then stacked it neatly outside the courtyard.

Early this morning, Li Lao Si packed his bow and arrows, preparing to hunt in the mountains. After the rain, the wild animals on the mountain were less mobile and easier to catch.

"Autumn, we're here!"

Some young men from the nearby villages, dressed in their finest attire and armed with bows and axes, rushed to Li's house. Their faces were beaming with excitement.

Previously, while chopping wood together, Li Lao Si casually shot down a mountain chicken and rabbit with his arrows. His superb archery skills left them in awe.

After much persuasion, Lao Si agreed to take them up the mountain.

"Have you all eaten If there's nothing else, let's go now."

Lao Si checked his quiver and, with the youngsters, went up the mountain.

Jia Xi and Jia An wanted to go too, but Li Laosi only took Jia Yi, who was strong and skilled.

Jia An Jia Xi was very disheartened, but then Tao Hong Ying called him to the kitchen and gave him a roasted sweet potato, which cheered him right up.

Li Laotai held Jiayin and sat on the kang, chatting with the women who were moving around the house.

This woman's husband's surname was Zhang, and villagers called her "Zhang Er Sao".

Speaking of her, she was the woman who had come to the village with Li Jiagang before and told Li Laotai about the village's situation.

When Li's family hosted a banquet for the villagers, Zhang Ersao came to help out. She chatted with Old Mrs. Li for a while before going home.

She just happened to be free today, so she came to talk to Old Lady Li again and see how Jia Yin was doing.

"Auntie, your big courtyard is so clean and tidy. It's obvious you are a good housekeeper!"

Zhang Er's sister-in-law was amusing Jia Yin with a tambourine while praising her.

Mrs. Li passed the good news to her, then lowered her head and continued embroidering a small flower.

"We have a big family, and with everyone working together, we can finish this quickly."

Zhang Er's sister-in-law heard this and nodded enviously.

“Your son is truly a good boy. Not to mention that just the other day, when collecting taxes, your second son helped out and saved everyone a lot of grain. Did your second son go to school He's really good at calculating and keeping records.”

"I've never been to a school, I've only studied at home for a few days. The tuition is too expensive, and our family life is difficult, we really can't afford it." Li Laotai casually replied.

Zhang Er's sister-in-law nodded, "That's right. My family has a nephew who studies in the county town. It's said that he spends at least ten or so taels a year."

My brother and sister-in-law tightened their belts every day to support this child. Any money or food they had, they thought of sending to their son. They lived a very hard life...

Just as Old Madam Li was about to respond, she raised her head and saw her grandson, who was carrying firewood back and forth in the courtyard, glance at her. Her heart skipped a beat.

Jiarren is already twelve years old. He learned to read from his father when he was young and also loves to read in his spare time.

If there were no warlords in the frontier, she would have also sent him to school.

Now that I've settled in, it's worth reconsidering.

"Reading is a good thing; if you pass the exam, you can become an official in the future."

Li Lao came to her senses and chuckled lightly at Zhang Er's wife.

"Yes, yes, my sister-in-law said the same thing." Zhang Er's wife had a proud look on her face, obviously taking pride in her nephew's studies.

Jiao Yin listened to the two people talking, her big eyes rolling back and forth, guessing that Grandma must want to send her older brother to study.

She cooperated with Zhang Ersao's teasing, reaching out to grab the tambourine, while calculating what else she could take out of the space to sell.

When there's more money at home, you can be more confident about affording your children's education.

"My family has harvested a lot of soybeans recently, and now is the perfect time to make soybean paste. I'm going to get started in these few days. Old Sister-in-law, do you make soy sauce blocks at your place Would you like to do it together"

Zhang Er's sister-in-law saw that Li Lao Tai was staring out the window and seemed a little lost in thought, so she called her name.

Li Laotai quickly replied, "That's great! We can make sauce together then. Remember to let me know in advance so I can have Hongying soak the beans."

"Well then, your courtyard is spacious and you have two big iron pots. I might as well bring some soybeans over and cook them with you. We can also dry them in your courtyard."

Zhang Er's sister-in-law the more she talked, the more feasible it seemed to her. She couldn't wait to go home and move the beans, making bean paste at Li's house.

Li Laotai didn't dislike Zhang Ersao's flamboyant and straightforward personality.

After chatting for a while, Zhang Ersao touched Jia Yin's little face and reluctantly went home to cook.

Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru picked a small basket of mushrooms near the foot of the mountain. After drying them, they prepared to make dinner.

Jia Yin's little mouth was bubbling with saliva, and she insisted on being held by Tao Hongying. Tao Hongying simply carried Jia Yin on her back while cooking.

While Tao Hongying was chopping vegetables, Jiayin secretly added rice to the pot. After the final pot of what should have been a thin rice porridge was cooked, it turned out thick and creamy instead.

Li Laotai went to the field and saw the pot of porridge. She was used to it by now, picked up her granddaughter and sat down at the table.

The Li family members came back one after another, and everyone gathered together to have a formal meal.he convoy..."Jia Ren patted his shoulder, helplessly saying, "You better listen to me and don't keep the county princess waiting."The county princess appeared to value wealth, but that wasn't true. Wh...